Growing phlox perennial: planting and care, varieties

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Phlox is one of the most beautiful plants in flower gardens. They can be found everywhere, and this is not surprising, because phloxes delight us with their lush flowering and multiplicity of varieties. Perennial phloxes - planting and care, their photos, breeding rules, varieties will be considered in our article.

Description of the plant

Only one species (and there are more than fifty of them) is annual, the rest are perennial. In most of the species, the leaves, as well as the aerial stems, die off after the growing season is over. However, there are evergreen species in which both parts live long.

Phlox, due to its lush flowering and unpretentious care, are widely used in floriculture and landscape design. These flowers are so common because their lush bloom lasts almost six months, and therefore practically no garden is complete without these beautiful flowers.

Wild phloxes differ in appearance and morphological characteristics. They have in common a straight, hard stem, a wonderful aroma of blossoming flowers and a wide variety of colors - both delicate and bright and rich colors.

There are three groups of these plants. The first includes bush phlox. This group of phlox includes plants that can be tall and short. In the photo you can see that the flowers do not have a characteristic notch. These types of phlox bloom from early summer. Usually these plant species are placed in the background due to their height.

Flowering in low-growing plants is shorter. This group includes Caroline, Hairy Phlox, and Candy Twist. These charming short plants look best in the foreground in a country garden, because if they are placed in the background of the compositions, then other plants can obscure them.

Perennial creeping phloxes are distinguished by the fact that they are the very first to bloom. Perennial ground cover phloxes (they are also creeping) are most often used to decorate retaining walls, they are also very much in demand for alpine slides. In this group, star-shaped, dwarf perennial phlox, as well as subulate perennial phlox are widespread.

The third group is loose sod. In Lobsterbirds, flowering occurs at the end of May. The peculiarity of this species, which immediately distinguishes them from creeping ones, is that they can rise above the soil.

This is a general classification, but now there are many varieties that can form their own groups. Let's consider the most common varieties.

Phlox varieties

Perennial paniculata phlox is the most popular variety. The flowering period of the paniculate refers to the end of summer. The photo shows that this type of plant has large inflorescences of a wide variety of shades. No less impressive for flowers and aroma. A distinctive feature is the absence of yellow paniculata.

The second most popular is the subulate phlox. In the photo you can see that the small inflorescences of this short plant consist of two or four flowers. The flowers have a very soft, delicate color. Planting and caring for this flower is not difficult, and each shoot produces flowers, so the plants form a flowering carpet of amazing beauty, consisting of dense soddy small bushes. This feature gave it its second name - turf.

The styloid phlox, as you can see in the photo, has unusual leaves, by which this species is easily identified. The leaves are small, with their pointed shape similar to needles, leathery.

The subulate phlox found the greatest distribution for growing in flower baskets, for borders. This plant is often used to organize plantings of various geometric shapes, since subulate perfectly tolerate a haircut.

The undersized species include carpet-shaped Douglas phlox. This flower has only two flowering periods - once it blooms in May-June, the second in autumn. The photo shows that it has narrow gray-green leaves. The color of the flowers is very delicate, pale.

Canadian phlox (also called splayed) reaches a height of 15-40 cm, which refers it to medium-sized plants. Planting and leaving the Canadian phlox is more specific. So, this plant is more whimsical in the choice of soil. For example, forest or peat soils do not suit him well, but light soils with humus are ideal for him - he grows well on them.

In total, there are 1,500 phlox varieties. From them you can choose a plant of the desired height and color. Many varieties have very sonorous names.

Variety "Alyonushka" refers to loose sod phlox with a straight stem. This plant has very delicate pink flowers. The height of "Alenushka" reaches half a meter. Flowering "Alenushka" begins in mid-June, it is short-lived - about a month. This variety can be recommended for beginners in floriculture, since the plant is resistant to many diseases, so caring for it will not give you much trouble.

A variety called Appassionata with dense inflorescences belongs to medium-sized plants. The flowers have a beautiful lilac-purple hue. It is a very beautiful bushy variety, very lush, with large flowers that begin to bloom in mid-July.

The Snow White variety, as the name implies, has snow-white flowers, although the tube is pinkish. The flowering of the plant is unusually beautiful - the bush is covered with a carpet of delicate white-pink flowers.

Large flowers can be seen in the variety called "Boni Maid". It is a tall plant with large flowers of a captivating aroma and a delicate color palette - the flowers are painted in a soft blue or purple color.

An even higher grade is West. This phlox can reach a height of one and a half meters. It has very strong stems and small flowers of a beautiful raspberry hue.

The Blue Otrada variety is very beautiful. As the name implies, the flowers have a very delicate and soft light bluish-purple color. These are winter-hardy flowers of medium late flowering. Medium resistance to fungal diseases.

The "Dragon" has a very original color - at first the flowers have a purple-violet color, later they become silvery. This is a bush with an average flowering period, strong, winter-hardy, up to 90 cm high.

The original coral coloring of the phlox called "Childhood". These are flowers with a carmine ring of an oval dense inflorescence. The bush grows very quickly. The advantage of the "Childhood" variety is a very lush and long flowering. Also, this bush is resistant to adverse weather conditions.

Zhemchuzhina has a light pink color that does not fade in the sun. The inflorescences are large and dense. The variety is compact, strong, medium flowering.

A coral color with a pink tint is seen in the Smoky Coral variety. It is a powerful, sturdy shrub with spherical buds.

Delicate light lilac coloring at "Cinderella". It is a medium-sized shrub that develops very quickly and reproduces well. Differs in mid-late flowering.

The Isabelle variety is distinguished by its pale pink color. The inflorescences are large and dense. The bush is lush, durable, winter-hardy, the flowering period is average.

A perennial called "Europe" has large snow-white flowers with a carmine eye, located on straight stems. Flowering begins in early July and lasts a little more than a month.

Flowers of an unusual shape can boast a perennial variety called "Twilight". This plant with large flowers reaches a height of up to 70 cm. It can be distinguished from other varieties by the edges of the petal, which are strongly bent forward. The flowers have a beautiful purple-purple hue.

A very beautiful, rich crimson color can be observed in the Manon variety. Its advantages include the fact that the flowers do not fade in the sun. The bush grows well and reproduces well.

As you can see, the varieties of this plant are numerous and varied. You should not be limited only to paniculata (it is the most common), since other species, as you can see in the photo, are no less amazing in beauty. Phlox can decorate the garden even in spring, if you choose, for example, undersized early flowering species. And green carpets retain their decorative properties until late autumn.

How to choose planting material

When choosing phlox perennials for a successful planting, pay attention to the presence of up to five shoots with a shiny surface. They should have healthy roots, undeformed leaves, and greenish, rough skin. The stems of mature plants must be cut in half before digging up.

Carefully remove the bush, clean it from the ground, then the rhizome must be divided into several parts - they do this with a knife or just by hand. Be careful not to accidentally damage the vegetative buds - they are located at the base of the stem.

Reproduction of phlox

The easiest way is to divide the bush, which allows you to simultaneously rejuvenate the old bush and at the same time use it for a new planting.

Spring growth shoots can be used, for which they are broken out at the base of the stem, then planted in a greenhouse or greenhouse for better rooting. In early June, roots form on the shoots, after which they are transplanted to the place chosen for them.

The cuttings method is suitable if you need to propagate a large number of plants. Pieces of young shoots with leaves are cut off, then they are planted in moist soil and covered with a jar so that they take root.

Planting and leaving

Planting and leaving is not particularly difficult, but some nuances should be taken into account. Planting time depends on the root system. So, if it is open, it is early spring and early autumn; if closed, then the entire growing season.

Phlox are strong, hardy plants, but they thrive best on light loamy soil, to which you can add lime. The area where you plan to grow phlox must be dug deeply back in the fall. If you grow undersized spring varieties, then in addition to digging the soil should be cleaned of weed rhizomes.

For planting, sunny areas are selected. But please note that hybrids with coloring that fade easily should be planted in areas with partial shade. If you live in the southern region, it is recommended to darken during the midday sun.

The place where you plan to grow phlox should not be low-lying, since moisture accumulates there, and an ice crust forms in winter. Therefore, avoid damp areas.

The place should not be windy. Do not plant flowers in the shade of trees.

It is important to feed and water the plants regularly, however, watering should not be too frequent, to exclude increased dryness and heat. The optimal watering time is in the afternoon. Regular watering as well as loosening the soil are important steps in maintenance. Top dressing should be carried out from the moment the buds wake up, and until the leaves are shed by the plant.

Diseases and pests

Phlox disease is not threatened, if you take good care of them, do not start your landing. One of the most common diseases that spoils the appearance of this perennial is powdery mildew, which covers the leaves and stems with a white coating. This disease can overcome the plant in mid-July. If you do not take action, then the leaves affected by the disease will begin to dry out and fall off.

To avoid this disease, plants in October must be treated with one percent Bordeaux liquid or a solution of copper sulfate of the same concentration. At the beginning of summer, spray the plants with fungicidal preparations.

If you notice signs of a disease, namely a white bloom, then the plants must be treated with Bordeaux liquid. Re-processing is carried out after 7-10 days.

In addition, aphids are dangerous for plants, but they only attack weakened flowers. Therefore, do not allow food shortages and water them in time. Among the pests of phlox, the earwig, spider mite, and wireworm should also be noted.

As you can see, this beautiful perennial plant does not cause any particular difficulties in care, does not require much attention from you. However, these bright, fragrant flowers can be the best garden decoration and a wonderful addition to your floral arrangement. They are very unassuming, at the same time they bloom very luxuriantly and profusely, especially if they are fed.

At the same time, there are so many varieties and varieties of phlox that you can easily choose plants that are suitable specifically for your flower garden in terms of color and size. The latter is especially important because there are very tall varieties of bushes that may not fit into your composition.